Speeches

At the 2014 National HBCU convention, Secretary Duncan affirmed the value of HBCUs to achieving national educational goals, such as regaining America's lead in college attainment, strengthening the STEM fields and the teaching profession, expanding diversity, and encouraging innovation and international education. He also addressed concerns that HBCU leaders have raised about several Obama administration initiatives, and thanked the leadership of HBCUs for helping to improve and strengthen a...

In informal remarks, Secretary Duncan spoke about education leadership, improvement, and equity to students, alumni, and faculty at the Harvard Graduate School of Education on September 19. Duncan discussed the Back-to-School Bus Tour, reflected on his formative educational experiences, and challenged Harvard to break the mold for teacher training programs.

In his remarks to the National Academy Foundation (NAF), Secretary Duncan emphasized the need to close the nation's skills gap by equipping all students to succeed in college and careers, and noted the value of providing rigorous and relevant school-based and work-based learning opportunities as a part of that preparation. Prior to the Secretary's remarks, business and industry leaders joined NAF officials to announce the launch of the NAFTrack Certified Hiring Partnership that will give...

In his remarks to the PTA National Convention, Secretary Duncan talked about the critical importance of parents and families in education and the changes occurring in classrooms across America that are helping to prepare students for success in college, careers, and life. He recognized the hard work of schools and communities who are transforming educational opportunities for students. Secretary Duncan also challenged the audience to be a voice for higher expectations, for bettering schools...

Secretary Duncan congratulated the 2014 Presidential Scholars and celebrated the program's 50th year. He also recognized the collective and individual accomplishments of this year's class. Secretary Duncan advised the audience to work collectively to solve problems, to pursue their passions, and to surround themselves with mentors and role models, while making every year a milestone year.

Thank you, President DePoe, for that kind introduction. I am honored to be here, in the home of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes, and especially to share this wonderful day with you, your families, our tribal leadership, and our elders.

Secretary Duncan spoke both to why education is the civil rights issue of our generation and the unfulfilled promise of Brown v. Board of Education. Equity is a theme of virtually all the Obama administration's initiatives in education. The Secretary urged education reporters to aggressively report not only on achievement and opportunity gaps but on the "courage gap" and "action gap."

In the opening statement to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Secretary Duncan hailed a record high school graduation rate and increased college attainment in the U.S. but said that large and costly opportunity gaps still remain. He called on Congress to enact President Obama's FY budget 2015 budget for education, stressing the importance of investing in education, and the moral and economic imperative for closing opportunity gaps and enhancing equity. (For a fuller exposition of the...

I want to begin by thanking Congress for your work on the 2014 appropriation for education. I appreciate the funding increases that you included in the fiscal year 2014 appropriation. However, it’s important to recognize that total discretionary funding for the Department of Education, excluding Pell Grants, remains below the fiscal year 2010 level, and I worry about the long-term impact of the continuing slide in Federal education funding on the health of our economy and our...